May 13th 2024.
In New Delhi, a significant number of citizens exercised their right to vote with a turnout of almost 63 percent in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. This phase covered 96 constituencies across 10 states and Union Territories. While there were some incidents of violence reported in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, the overall voter turnout was still impressive.
West Bengal once again recorded the highest voter turnout at 75.94 percent, which was the highest among all states and Union Territories in this phase. In Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar constituency, which saw its first Lok Sabha election since the scrapping of Article 370, there was a 36.58 percent voter turnout. The Election Commission noted that this was the highest turnout in decades.
According to the Election Commission, the approximate voter turnout for the fourth phase of General Elections 2024 was 62.84 percent until 8 pm. While the polling stations were closed at 6 pm, there was still a large number of voters waiting in queues to cast their vote. These figures were provisional and were being updated.
Among the other states, Andhra Pradesh recorded a turnout of 68.12 percent, Bihar 55.90 percent, Jharkhand 63.37 percent, Madhya Pradesh 68.63 percent, Maharashtra 52.75 percent, Odisha 63.85 percent, Telangana 61.39 percent, and Uttar Pradesh 57.88 percent. The overall voter turnout for the first three phases of the Lok Sabha elections was 66.14 percent, 66.71 percent, and 65.68 percent, respectively.
With the conclusion of the fourth phase, over half of the general elections have been completed as 23 states/UTs and 379 Lok Sabha constituencies out of 543 have had their polling. Additionally, assembly elections have been completed in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, and 28 assembly seats in Odisha.
In Telangana's Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, BJP candidate K Madhavi Latha, who is contesting against AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, was booked for a video that surfaced online where she was seen asking burqa-clad women voters to show their faces to compare with their photo identity cards.
In Andhra Pradesh, there were reports of violence between the TDP and YSRCP parties, especially in areas like Palnadu, Kadapa, and Annamayya districts. The YSRCP also complained to the Election Commission about poll code violations by the TDP in several assembly segments.
The polling for 175 assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in the coastal state of Andhra Pradesh occurred simultaneously on Monday. The YSRCP alleged that TDP leaders captured five polling booths in the Vemuru constituency. In Tenali, YSRCP leader and Tenali MLA A Shiva Kumar allegedly manhandled a voter after an argument.
In Railway Kodur constituency, an EVM was destroyed and cars belonging to the ruling party and TDP were damaged. In Myduruku constituency, a TDP agent was attacked and hospitalized. The YSRCP also alleged that their party agent was stabbed in Chittoor's Gudipala mandal and that a party member was attacked in the Darsi constituency.
Meanwhile, TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu criticized the violence in the state and accused the YSRCP of implementing their plots in a concerted manner. He also stated that local police officials failed to prevent violence in the Macherla constituency.
The fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections covering 96 constituencies spread over 10 states and Union Territories saw a voter turnout of nearly 63 per cent on Monday. While the overall polling was conducted peacefully, there were scattered incidents of violence reported in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. West Bengal once again recorded an impressive turnout at 75.94 per cent, the highest among all states and Union Territories in this phase.
One of the highlights of this phase was the first Lok Sabha election in the Srinagar constituency in Jammu and Kashmir since the scrapping of Article 370. The Election Commission reported a voting percentage of 36.58 per cent, which they deemed as the "highest turnout in decades". According to the Election Commission, the approximate voter turnout in the fourth phase of the General Elections was 62.84 per cent till 8 pm, even though polling ended at 6 pm. The Commission clarified that these were provisional figures and were still being updated.
Among the other states, Andhra Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 68.12 per cent, Bihar 55.90 per cent, Jharkhand 63.37 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 68.63 per cent, Maharashtra 52.75 per cent, Odisha 63.85 per cent, Telangana 61.39 per cent and Uttar Pradesh 57.88 per cent. With the conclusion of the fourth phase, polling for the general elections has now crossed the halfway mark as it has been completed in 23 states/UTs and 379 Lok Sabha constituencies out of 543.
Moreover, the assembly elections have also been successfully completed in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, and 28 assembly seats of Odisha. However, there were also reports of certain incidents that marred the otherwise peaceful polling. In Telangana's Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, BJP candidate K Madhavi Latha, who is contesting against AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, was booked by the election authorities after a video clip surfaced online, allegedly showing her asking burqa-clad women voters to show their faces in order to compare them with their photo identity cards.
In Andhra Pradesh, the TDP and YSRCP accused each other of indulging in violence, particularly in Palnadu, Kadapa and Annamayya districts. The YSRCP even wrote to the EC, alleging violations of the poll code by the rival TDP in several assembly segments like Vemuru, Darsi, Icchapuram, Kuppam, Macherla, Markapuram, Palakonda, and Pedakurapaudu.
In the coastal state, where polling for 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies took place simultaneously on Monday, the YSRCP alleged that TDP leaders had captured five polling booths in the Vemuru constituency. In another incident, YSRCP leader and Tenali MLA A Shiva Kumar allegedly manhandled a voter following an argument, and the voter also retaliated.
There were also reports of violence in Dalavaipalli village in the Railway Kodur constituency, where an EVM was destroyed, and cars belonging to the ruling party and TDP were damaged. In Nakkaladinne village in Myduruku constituency, a TDP agent was attacked, leading to his hospitalization. The YSRCP also alleged that a party agent, Suresh Reddy, was stabbed at Mandi Krishnapuram village in Chittoor's Gudipala mandal. They further claimed that TDP supporters had attacked party member B Anji Reddy at Aravallipadu in the Darsi constituency, resulting in a head injury.
MLC Mohammed Ahmed Shariff of the TDP wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena, complaining about alleged attacks by YSRCP cadres on TDP supporters at Rentala village in Rentichintala mandal of Palnadu district. In yet another incident, TDP activists damaged the vehicle of senior YSRCP leader Nandigam Suresh. Speaking about the violence, TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu condemned it and stated that there was "no peaceful atmosphere in the state for people to exercise their franchise". He further added that the YSRCP was implementing their plots in a planned manner and that local police officials had failed to prevent the violence in the Macherla constituency.
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